The Philippines, traditionally renowned for its fervent passion for basketball, is progressively emerging as a formidable force in professional football within Southeast Asia. At the heart of Ceres-Negros FC’s remarkable ascent is Bienvenido Maranon, whose contributions have been instrumental since his arrival in 2015.
Initially, the Spanish forward was largely unfamiliar with the football landscape in the Philippines, where the highest level of competition was represented by a semi-professional league known as the United Football League (UFL). However, in a span of five years following Maranon’s recruitment, Ceres-Negros has clinched three consecutive titles in the newly established Philippines Football League, which succeeded the UFL as a fully professional entity, along with securing the 2017 AFC Cup ASEAN Zone championship.
In a candid interview on The John Dykes Show, Maranon expressed, “I initially did not know anything about football in the Philippines. At the beginning, football in the Philippines was not really good, especially four or five years ago when it was not even a professional league. Nevertheless, I have thoroughly enjoyed it because the standard has gradually improved and Ceres-Negros has seen significant growth. Today, we compete in the qualifiers for the AFC Champions League, participate in the AFC Cup, and achieve numerous titles.”
At 33 years of age, Maranon is not only flourishing in the Philippines but also contributing to the national team’s rising profile, exemplified by their inaugural participation in the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year. Furthermore, during a recent match against Bali United on March 11, Maranon netted his 35th goal in the AFC Cup, thus cementing his status as the all-time highest scorer in the competition’s history, accomplished over the span of four tournaments.
Reflecting on this milestone, Maranon stated, “I feel so happy; however, at that moment, I was unaware of this achievement. I consider myself fortunate to play alongside exceptional teammates such as Manny Ott, Stephan Schrock, and ‘Super’ Manuel Herrera, which makes scoring goals appear accessible.”
Maranon’s journey may have taken a different path had it not been for the guidance of a former teammate from the second-tier Spanish club Cadiz, Carli de Murga. A player of Filipino heritage, De Murga has represented the Philippine national team for nearly a decade and introduced Maranon to the prospect of playing professionally in the Philippines, leading to their eventual collaboration at Ceres-Negros from 2015 to 2019.
“I often remark that I am fortunate to have arrived in the Philippines five years ago; I have experienced the entire journey, from a time when the league was not professionally structured to now, as we experience the most successful moments in the history of Philippine football,” remarked Maranon.
While the anticipated continuation of the AFC Cup has been postponed until July due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Ceres-Negros FC remains determined to pursue further success within the tournament, with Maranon continuing to play a pivotal role in their aspirations.
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